Method for differentiating dynamic range of image

ABSTRACT

A method for differentiating dynamic range of image is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. First of all, pixel numbers with the same level value of Density units D n−1  and D n  are compared. Next the minimum pixel numbers of each level value of Density units D n−1  and D n  are counted. Then the minimum pixel numbers of each level value of Density units D n−1  and D n  are summed. Next the ratio of total minimum pixel number and total pixel number R and a specification value R s  are compared. Then whether R is smaller than R s  or not is determined so as to recognize whether Density units D n−1  and D n  could be differentiated or not.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/281,307, filed Oct. 28, 2002, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,050,628.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for differentiating dynamic range of image, and more particularly to method for differentiating density units in a dynamic range of image.

2. Description of the Related Art

Optical scanners are used to capture and digitize images. For example, an optical scanner can be used to capture the image of printed matter on a sheet of paper. The digitized image can then be electronically stored and/or processed with character recognition software to produce ASCII text. The typical optical scanner includes a light source, a linear array of photoelectric sensing elements (generally a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, or a CIS sensor), an analog amplifier, an analog to digital converter (ADC), a controller and a random access memory (RAM).

The CCD sensor includes a large number (e.g., 2000) of photoelectric sensing elements arranged in a linear array. Each photoelectric sensing element will capture light representing a single pixel of the image. The array will capture a line of pixels. By moving the CCD sensor across a document, the entire document can be scanned one line at a time.

The conversion into digital signals of light reflected from or transmitted through the document takes place in essentially three steps. First, each photoelectric sensing element will convert the light which it receives into an electric charge. The magnitude of the charge will depend on the intensity of the light and the exposure time. Second, the charges from each of the photoelectric sensing elements are converted into analog voltages via the analog amplifier. Finally, the analog voltages are digitized by the analog to digital converter for digital image processing and storage in the RAM.

Images of a target or a test chart finally generated by a scanner have density units with separate pixel-level distribution. Although density units have individual pixel-level distribution, the pixel-level distributions of density units could overlap so as to render the density units undistinguishable. Conventionally, density units D_(n) and D_(n+1) are differentiated by a standard deviation method, wherein when D_(n)−1/4S_(n)>D_(n+1)+1/4S_(n+1), density units D_(n) and D_(n+1) are distinguishable. However, the standard deviation method still has several disadvantages. For example, when some obstacles or dusts are present on a target or a test chart, the images of the obstacles or dusts would interfere the differentiation of density units by the standard deviation method.

Hence it is desirable to provide a method for differentiating dynamic range of image to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method for differentiating dynamic range of image to exclude the interference of the differentiation of density units induced by obstacles on images.

To achieve these objects, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, the invention provide a method for differentiating dynamic range of image. The method comprises the following steps. First of all, pixel numbers with the same level value of Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are compared. Next the minimum pixel numbers of each level value of Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are counted. Then the minimum pixel numbers of each level value of Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are summed. Next the ratio of total minimum pixel number and total pixel number R and a specification value R_(s) are compared. Then whether R is smaller than R_(s) or not is determined so as to recognize whether Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) could be differentiated or not. When the ratio R is smaller than the specification value R_(s), the density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are determined as distinguishable. When the ratio R is not smaller than the specification value R_(s), the density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are determined as undistinguishable.

Dynamic range of image can also be differentiated by using an overlap area of pixel-level distributions of density units. Firstly, pixel-level distributions of density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are provided. Then an overlap area of the pixel-level distributions of the density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) is counted and the overlap area is compared with a specification value. When the overlap area is smaller than the specification value, the density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are determined as distinguishable. Instead, when the overlap area is not smaller than the specification value, the density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are determined as undistinguishable.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of pixel number versus levels of an image of a target or a test chart; and

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It is to be understood and appreciated that the method for differentiating dynamic range of image described below do not cover a complete system and method. The present invention can be practiced in conjunction with various software and hardware that are used in the art, and only so much of the commonly practiced components and steps are included herein as are necessary to provide an understanding of the present invention.

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are in greatly simplified form.

Referring to FIG. 1, a diagram of pixel number versus levels of an image of a target or a test chart is shown. Density units D_(n−1), D_(n) and D_(n+1) separately have pixel-level distributions overlapped. Density unit D_(n−1) has a pixel-level distribution which has one pixel with a minimum level value 3, over 8000 pixels with level 6 and 186 pixels with a maximum level value of 8. Most pixels of density unit D_(n−1) have level values from 4 to 8. Density unit D_(n) has a pixel-level distribution which has 21 pixels with a minimum level of 4, over 6500 pixels with a level of 7 and 15 pixels with a maximum level value of 9. Most pixels of density unit D_(n) have level values from 5 to 8. Density unit D_(n+1) has a pixel-level distribution which has 1 pixels with a minimum level of 4, over 6500 pixels with a level of 8 and 15 pixels with a maximum level value of 10. Most pixels of density unit D_(n+1) have level values from 6 to 9. Since the pixel-level distributions of Density units D_(n−1), D_(n) and D_(n+1) overlaps with each other, whether Density units D_(n−1), D_(n) and D_(n+1) can be differentiated depends on the overlap areas of pixel-level distributions of Density units D_(n−1), D_(n) and D_(n+1). The larger areas of pixel-level distributions Density units overlap, the harder Density units can be differentiated. By comparing and counting the total pixel number with the same level value of Density units, Density units can be determined as distinguishable or undistinguishable. By setting a critical value of overlap area of pixel-level distributions of Density units, an image of a target or a test chart can be recognized as distinguishable or undistinguishable.

Table 1 further illustrates the pixel-level distributions of Density units D_(n−1), D_(n) and D_(n+1) and the comparison and counting of the overlap area of Density units D_(n−1), D_(n) and D_(n+1). By comparing and counting the pixels with the same level value of two adjacent Density units, total pixels with the same level value which would render the two adjacent Density units undistinguishable can be obtained. As shown in Table 1, by counting and summing the minimum pixel number of two adjacent Density units, the total pixel number of the overlap area between two adjacent Density units can be obtained. In Table 1, if a critical value of total pixel number of the overlap area of Density units above which Density units are determined as undistinguishable is set as 7500, Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are undistinguishable while Density units D_(n) and D_(n+1) are distinguishable. The critical value can also be a ratio of the pixel number of the overlap area and total pixel number. For example, the critical value can be 7500/13926 or 0.5386. The overlap ratio between Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) is 9700/13926 or 0.6966 and Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are undistinguishable. The overlap ratio between Density units D_(n) and D_(n+1) is 7407/13926 or 0.5319 and Density units D_(n) and D_(n+1) are distinguishable.

TABLE 1 D_(n−1) D_(n) D_(n+1) Min Min Level Pixels Pixels Pixels (D_(n−1):D_(n)) (D_(n):D_(n+1)) 3 1 0 0 0 0 4 219 21 1 21 1 5 1965 454 8 454 8 6 8134 5618 639 5618 639 7 3421 6784 5710 3421 5710 8 186 1034 6655 186 1034 9 0 15 910 0 15 10 0 0 3 0 0 Total 13926 13926 13926 9700 7407

Referring to FIG. 2, a flow chart of the invention is shown. Density units of an image can be differentiated by the following steps. First of all, pixel numbers with the same level value of Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are compared in step 102. Next the minimum pixel numbers of each level value of Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are counted in step 104. Then the minimum pixel numbers of each level value of Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are summed in step 106. Next the ratio of total minimum pixel number and total pixel number R and a specification value R_(s) are compared in step 108. Then whether R is smaller than R_(s) or not is determined in step 110. If R is smaller than R_(s), then Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are determined as distinguishable in step 112. If R is not smaller than R_(s), then Density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are determined as undistinguishable in step 114.

Other embodiments of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples to be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims. 

1. A method, comprising: comparing pixel numbers with a same level value of density units; identifying a minimum pixel number of each level value of density units; and comparing a ratio of total minimum pixel number and total pixel number with a specification value.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising summing said minimum pixel number of each level value of density units.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said density units are determined as distinguishable upon the determination that said total pixel number is smaller than said specification value.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said density units are determined as undistinguishable upon the determination that said total pixel number is larger than said specification value.
 5. A method for differentiating dynamic range of image, comprising: providing pixel-level distributions of density units; identifying an overlap area of said pixel-level distributions of said density units; and comparing said overlap area with a specification value.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said density units are determined distinguishable upon the determination that said overlap area is smaller than said specification value.
 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said density unit are determined undistinguishable upon the determination that said overlap area is larger than said specification value.
 8. An apparatus, comprising: means for comparing pixel numbers with a same level value of density units; means for identifying a minimum pixel number of each level value of density units; and means for comparing a ratio of total minimum pixel number and total pixel number with a specification value.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising means for summing said minimum pixel number of each level value of density units.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a means for determining density units are distinguishable upon the determination that said total pixel number is smaller than said specification value.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a means for determining density units are undistinguishable upon the determination that said total pixel number is larger than said specification value.
 12. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing platform, result in differentiating dynamic range of image by: comparing pixel numbers with a same level value of density units; identifying a minimum pixel number of each level value of density units; and comparing a ratio of total minimum pixel number and total pixel number with a specification value.
 13. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, further comprising summing said minimum pixel number of each level value of density units.
 14. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein said density units are determined as distinguishable upon the determination that said total pixel number is smaller than said specification value.
 15. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein said density units are determined as undistinguishable upon the determination that said total pixel number is larger than said specification value.
 16. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing platform, differentiate dynamic range of an image by: comparing pixel numbers exhibiting a same level value for density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) to identify a minimum pixel number for each level value of density units D_(n−1) and D_(n); computing a total minimum pixel number by summing said minimum pixel number from each level value; and comparing a ratio R of total minimum pixel number and total pixel number with a specification value R_(s).
 17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising: determining that said density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are distinguishable in response to said ratio R being smaller than said specification value R_(s).
 18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising: determining that said density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are indistinguishable in response to said ratio R being greater than or equal to said specification value R_(s).
 19. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing platform, differentiate dynamic range of image by: counting an overlap area of pixel-level distributions of said density units D_(n−1) and D_(n); and comparing said overlap area with a specification value.
 20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising: determining that said density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are distinguishable in response to said overlap area being smaller than said specification value R_(s).
 21. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising: determining that said density units D_(n−1) and D_(n) are indistinguishable in response to said overlap area being greater than or equal to said specification value R_(s). 